The report claims a North South divide in transport spending Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire/PA Images

A new report has highlighted a North - South divide in transport spending.

The research by the IPPR North think tank indicates that planned transport investment in London is two-and-a-half times higher per person than in the north of England.

London will receive £4,155 per person compared with just £1,600 in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions combined.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling sparked anger in July last year by supporting a new £30 billion Crossrail 2 scheme in London and the South East days after a series of rail electrification projects in Wales, the Midlands and the North were axed or downgraded.

Mr Grayling claims per person spending is higher in the North West than the South East when local transport schemes are taken into account.

Despite the Transport Secretary's recent statements, London is still set to receive almost three times more transport investment per person than the North. This is indefensible.

The North has been underfunded in comparison to London for decades, and our figures demonstrate that ministers have failed to redress this imbalance.

This failure will continue to hold back the North and the country until the Government acts.